Skin issues again

[Sus]

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Where do I start? Last year Biddy had an awful skin problem itching with dry scabby areas over belly, some to her back and around left ear (despite many trips to the vet) In December she was eventually treated with steroids first then a month of Apoquell and the use of prescribed Malasab shampoo. The itching, chewing of paws and the dry scabby areas cleared up but I did not want her to stay on Apoquell indefinitely so opted for the monthly Cytopint injections which she started in Jan
She is on raw food from Honeys and since she is now down to 3.2kgs I have upped the amount of food and I do not give her anything else except for various chews I am trying out to help with her teeth (does not seem to want to chew on any of them)
She is due another inj next week but has started scratching her left ear again and I found 2 areas of dry scabbbed skin on her stomach. I immediately gave her a bath with Malasab and applied Stinky dog stuff cream to scabbed areas (this, plus sudacream and coconut oil helped to lift scabs in the past but just using this one at moment)
Since the weather has got better we have been going out more and I am convinced that it is the grass, but if this happening when she is on the injections which are £83.45 a month then should I continue with them. Injections are given by a nurse to reduce cost but I have booked a vet app next week as well so that she can be seen and assessed again. Can anyone suggest what I should be asking the vet to get to the bottom of this or at least solve the problem as I never seem to be away from there (we do ask for and see the same vet every time so she is up to date with biddys issues
I have started eliminating one food at a time just so I am trying something, at the moment I am holding back on chicken. Other foods she has are beef, duck,lamb and pork. it will take a while but I will do the same with all the others just to see if it is food
I have taken up all my rugs downstairs and now just have wood and tiles. I have carpets upstairs but she sleeps in her own beds which are washed in non bio every 2 or 3 weeks
I am so fed up with it now that I do not know what else to do, I pay more on vets fees than I do on my dentist and considering she is only 3.2kg her food is more expensive than mine
Biddy is not the easiest dog to look after, she hates being touched or having anything done to her but I have started wiping her feet and legs when we come in from walks (she hates it but I have persevered) I could be wrong but I do think it is the grass or whatever is in it and have tried but unable to keep her off it. She is stubborn and a bit spoilt. All my own fault.

 

[JudyN]

I've no advice to give on her skin issues, but none of this, including Biddy's behaviours is your fault. She was a very disturbed stressed dog when she first came to you, and she needed whatever you could do to make her happy. Dogs aren't automatons, we can't, and shouldn't, get them to do anything we want regardless of their state of mind. You are doing an amazing job with her, and I doubht anyone could have done better.

 

[Sus]

Thanks JudyN but I am just so fed up with it all now. I am beginning to wish that I had never taken her on'
I would never abandon her now but it just seems to be one thing after another and I do not get much back from her. She likes eating, sleeping and going for walks. I do not get much interaction from her, she will not sit on the sofa or next to me and does not like being touched, hence the difficulty in doing anything to or with her
None of this is her fault I know and if she is happy enough now then that is all I want but it is these awful ongoing health conditions that I cannot deal with, she also smells if I do not bathe her regularly. I can recall a vet at some stage saying something about a fungal infection causing the smell but this has not been mentioned since. I think vets have to cover so much in their treatments of animals that skin conditions are maybe not at the top of their list
I do not have a bottomless pit of money to keep throwing at the vet or for going to specialists so am really going to have to sort something out at this next visit. I have looked into a specialist skin clinic 90miles away but my eyes nearly popped out of my head when I heard the potential cost and no guarantee of a definite diagnosis. It is out of my price range
I am debating going back to Apoquel. I did not want her on this long term but if it solves the problem then that might be the way to go. I can also get a prescription for this and buy it cheaper on the internet (Cannot do this with the Cytopoint injections) I am not sure what to do, I really thought that Cytopoint was the way to go and would solve all her problems Am hoping that the vet will give me some good advice but am realistic and know that they are a business and as such need to make money
I know one person whose dog is on long term Apoquell and does not seem to experience problems but he is young and fit
Fingers crossed that something gets done next week, I will also bring up the issue of whether it could be fungal

 

[JudyN]

If the Apoquel works, I would go with that - IMO it's worth a hypothetical long-term risk if it improves her (and your!) quality of life now. Though I would ask your vet about the possibility of fungal infections (and diagnosis/treatment/cost of treatment) when you next see them.

I'm sorry you're not enjoying her as much as you hoped you would. Hopefully you'll get to the point where you can think 'I've done everything possible, and that just has to be enough,' and then can relax a bit more. It's a bit like my hubby accepting that he is always going to struggle with itchy eczema at times rather than stressing about trying to find a solution to it (someone did recommend vacuuming daily, washing our sheets daily, and so on and so forth but he said he'd rather itch!).

 

[Sus]

You are right. I have started a list of what to discuss with the vet so that this time everything will be covered and I wont forget anything. I have added your advice to it as well
Fingers crossed that something will be sorted
I do not expect Biddy to be an all singing and dancing pet as I know she did not have the perfect life before and as she is the first dog that I have owned I have nothing to compare to which may be a good thing. We will be fine, I just want to sort out this skin problem as it must be awful for her although it is quite mild and controllable at the moment. I just do not want her to end up like she did last year so trying to nip it in the bud now
I have been talking to some of the neighbours of her previous owners and they seem to think that she is nearer 12 than the 10yrs old that I thought. One of them has a dog who is 10yrs and she says that had him as a pup pup when Biddy was full grown. The vet has her down as 10
Also the wife was a heavy chain smoker so I do not know if that has affected Biddys health though as far as I can find out she did not have any major health issues with her previous owners
Anyway thank you and am keeping my fingers crossed for next Thursday

 

[Flobo]

I wonder if her starting to itch again might be the cytopoint wearing off, if she's due another injection in a few days?(As well as the increase in allergens this time of year)
And good luck with the vet visit, I'm glad you're able to see the same vet each time now, it does make such a huge difference.

 

[Sus]

Thanks Flobo, I never thought about that, I will add it to my list and ask the vet and see what she thinks. Am trying to make sure I cover everything on this next visit

 

[colettedb]

August is on Apoquel - it was double dose for 2 weeks and the itching cleared up - she is on her 3rd day of maintenance dosage and I can see she is starting to itch again - not as fervently as before but it has increased. I will watch her for rest of week and take her back to the vet if this continues. If apoquel works it is definitely worth continuing- expensive but has been effective with the bald patches getting hair again

 

[Sus]

Thanks for your reply colettedb, I will keep that in mind. I have an app at 2pm today so will have to make a decision then
I actually had a phone call from a vet on Tuesday (not the one I see, so they are obviously taking my concerns seriously) She was very good and explained everything about allergies and treatments and made everything a lot clearer. She explained about the blood tests but did not advise me to take that route as she said it was very expensive ie different blood tests for different allergies and even if cause is found there is nothing I can do about most allergens except for food which I do not think it is
Think I am going to go the Apoquell route which is going to be a lot cheaper than Cytopoint injections which do not seem to work now warmer weather has come but limit it to the summer months. Have been told I can have a prescription for 6 months supply for £25 then can order online which will be cheaper than buying from vet
Have to definitely decide today so fingers crossed I sort this out once and for all

 

[colettedb]

I hope the appointment is positive - my vet gave same advice about blood tests and thought the additional cost wouldn’t highlight the cause of allergy

 

[Sus]

Thanks colettedb, have been and have now got a prescription to order the Apoquel online. She also had a long term effect ear drop applied to left ear as she had been scratching and caused it to be inflamed.
The vet advised to give prescribed dose to start but then to monitor the situation to see what the lowest dose is that she needs to keep the allergies at bay and I am hoping that she will not need it at all during the Winter.
I do hope I get this sorted as I have spent an absolute fortune on vets fees this last 2 years and never seemed to get all her issues resolved
I am also going to try 'Stop bloody scratching' with probiotic, omegas and colostrum which has been recommended to me by another dog owner who said it worked for scratching.
I tried Nutripaw all-itch immunity treats previously which did absolutely nothing. The vet recommended Youmove products, I did previously use Youmove omega supplement which was in an oil you added to food, her coat definitely improved but I stopped it when someone mentioned that it may contain salmon which some dogs are allergic to. The vet had not heard this and did not think there was salmon oil in it. Too late anyway as I threw it away a long time ago. There are just so many products out there but it works out expensive trying them all